134: Waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump

The next day!

At the crack of dawn, when the morning mist still clung to the horizon like pale ink, Chu Ming, who had sat cross-legged under the ancient tree all night, took the remaining Blood Shadow Holy Land Disciples and bid his farewell.

"Fellow Daoist, sorry for the disturbance last night. Now that it's light, we shall take our leave. If fate permits, we shall meet again at the Central Stone Tower."

Li Pingan looked up, his gaze falling on Chu Ming.

This man acted prudently; when Mo Yanya died yesterday, he had maintained his distance, and throughout the night, he hadn't behaved improperly.

He didn't say much, only nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Chu Ming turned to leave but suddenly stopped as if remembering something important. He turned back and said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist, before I go, I've recalled something that might be vital to you."

His gaze moved past Li Pingan to Ye Hao, who was cultivating with closed eyes nearby. Lowering his voice, he added, "The Saintess of the Netherworld Holy Land seems to be intentionally... searching for this Fellow Daoist. Please be careful."

Although it now seemed the Saintess was likely unable to distinguish the gap in strength and was seeking her own death, Chu Ming's reminder could earn him some goodwill.

If they met in the third stage, it might prove very useful.

Li Pingan was startled to hear this and frowned slightly. Although he didn't know the full story regarding his Junior Brother, he knew the general gist.

He leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, "Where is that Saintess now?"

Chu Ming thought for a moment and pointed westward. "Based on the news I heard yesterday, she should be lying in wait on the only path to the Central Stone Tower."

"Thank you for informing us, Fellow Daoist!"

Li Pingan didn't know how to thank him for a moment. With a thought, he reached into his Storage Pouch and took out a pitch-black storage ring—the one he had taken from Mo Yanya yesterday. "A small token of appreciation, please take it as a thank-you gift."

Chu Ming was stunned for a moment. He didn't reach out to take it, but instead smiled and took his leave.

Half an hour later, the day was fully bright, and the morning mist had gradually dispersed.

Mu Wanqing slowly opened her eyes. The Spiritual Qi fluctuations around her suddenly grew several times stronger before quickly subsiding. A faint smile played on her lips; she had already touched the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer, which made her quite happy.

She hadn't been completely unaware of the activity outside the cave last night, but with Li Pingan on guard, she could immerse herself in cultivation without worry. Perhaps Xie Xingchen hadn't fully integrated yet, but a deep level of trust had already been established among the four Disciples.

Li Pingan walked up to Ye Hao and said solemnly, "Junior Brother, there's something I need to tell you." He then relayed Chu Ming's words.

Ye Hao listened quietly to Li Pingan's information. His fists clenched involuntarily, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes. "It's that bitch Ye Jing, no doubt. I didn't expect her to be actively looking for me."

Could that bitch really be so confident in getting rid of me?

Ye Hao frowned slightly. He was currently in the Golden Core Realm, a level he had broken through to only after tireless daily cultivation with the help of the Sect's immortal grade spirit vein and God-tier Cultivation Technique.

Had that bitch Ye Jing also encountered a great Opportunity in the Netherworld Holy Land?

No, an Immortal like Revered Master was rare even in this world. Ye Hao felt the possibility was extremely slim.

Regardless, going there would reveal everything.

Mu Wanqing narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded, giving the order, "West... The Central Stone Tower is also to the west. Let's go and see for ourselves!"

...In a region of rolling hills within the Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm.

The Saint and Saintess of the Medicine Pavilion, along with several Sect Disciples, were resting in a certain spot.

Saintess Ji Yao held a lustrous spirit fate crystal between her fingers. The faint light flowing within the crystal reflected in her smiling eyes, and a slight curve formed at the corners of her mouth:

"There are just over five hundred Cultivators who entered this Secret Realm, and we've already collected eighty spirit fate crystals. When the Secret Realm closes in three days, we only need to hold the Central Stone Tower to safely enter the third stage.

"At that time, the Opportunities of the Profound Realm will be one step closer to us."

Saint Xiao Chen, however, was not as relaxed. He gazed at the grey horizon in the distance and let out a sigh.

"I still can't figure out what kind of deal the Sect Master made with the other Holy Lands. The Heavenly Fire Holy Land and Myriad Manifestations Holy Land, which were usually at each other's throats, were actually deferential to us this time, even avoiding us during the competition for spirit fate crystals."

"After bitter cultivation for over ten years, I wanted to properly test what I've learned in this Secret Realm. Now, I haven't even had a chance to fight."

Ji Yao teased, "That's enough. The third match will have plenty of tough battles for you. Just don't get suppressed by those three geniuses from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion until you can't lift your head, becoming a stepping stone for them to reach the top."

"Who will be whose stepping stone is yet to be known!" A sharp light suddenly burst from Xiao Chen's eyes. "My goal has always been to make a name for myself in the Profound Realm! Even if those three from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion have talent, I have never considered them my opponents."

Just then!

A figure flew rapidly from ahead and crashed heavily at Xiao Chen's feet. Blood leaked from his mouth and nose, and his bones seemed shattered, with only a flicker of breath remaining.

"On guard!" The twenty-odd Disciples of the Medicine Pavilion stood up instantly. Their Magical Artifacts and Talismans lit up in unison as Spiritual Qi fluctuations spread out like a tide.

A man dressed in luxurious clothes walked slowly from behind the hill. His gaze swept over the people from the Medicine Pavilion, finally landing on Xiao Chen and Ji Yao. His tone was as casual as if he were asking a passerby:

"Are you two the Saint and Saintess of the Medicine Pavilion?"

Ji Yao's heart skipped a beat, and a green Talisman appeared in her hand. "Who are you? How dare you come to my Medicine Pavilion to seek death?"

Long Lie grinned upon hearing this. "If it's the Medicine Pavilion, then good! I originally came for those three from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, but since I couldn't find them, you'll have to do."

The moment he finished speaking, the sky suddenly darkened. Three bolts of thunder as thick as buckets crashed down from the clouds, hurtling toward Xiao Chen and Ji Yao!

...Mu Wanqing and her group continued their journey for an hour. They encountered two groups of Cultivators along the way, but after a mutual glance, the other parties immediately left.

Obviously, they didn't want to cause trouble.

They likely had obtained some spirit fate crystals and wanted to hide near the Central Stone Tower.

"It seems most of the remaining ordinary Cultivators in the Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm have put away their schemes and only want to enter the third stage safely."

Mu Wanqing nodded slightly, but her gaze turned westward. "Based on the distance, we aren't far from the only path to the Central Stone Tower. If Ye Jing is truly waiting there, we should encounter her soon."

Just as she finished speaking, the path ahead suddenly opened up, and a barren mountain hollow appeared before them.

In the middle of the hollow, under a withered old locust tree, a woman of extreme beauty suddenly appeared.

Following her, twenty or so Cultivators from the Netherworld Holy Land filed out. Her eyes were as black as ink as she looked at Ye Hao's group, her gaze dripping with undisguised killing intent. "My dear brother, I didn't expect you to have such great Luck to actually get involved with that Profound Realm."

"If you had stayed outside, I really wouldn't have been able to do anything to you. But since you dared to enter this Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm, I'll send you on your way."

Mu Wanqing narrowed her eyes slightly. Her yellow skirt swayed gently as Spiritual Qi circulated within her, sending out layers of ripples.

Ye Hao said solemnly with a serious expression, "Senior Sister, this is a personal grudge. I will handle it myself."

Mu Wanqing nodded gently upon hearing this.

Outside the Arena Stage!

The Sect Master of the Netherworld Holy Land had an extremely gloomy expression and couldn't help but curse, "What a fool. Can't she even tell the difference in Realms? She's actually rushing to her death."